A Treasury of Mountaineering Stories
A Treasury of Mountaineering Stories, edited by Daniel Talbot.
Pp. xii, 337. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1954. Price, $5.00.
As the literature of mountaineering becomes richer with the ever broadening interest and participation in climbing, it is inevitable that new views and new material will evoke new anthologies. And, as in the past, each will have its special merits. Such is the case here, for this collection, edited by Daniel Talbot, is distinguished from other recent anthologies in that it includes only stories—“diversified mountaineering stories to be read for pleasure.” On the whole the selection is quite successful. The stories are certainly diversified and offer pleasant entertainment to readers of varied tastes. In character they range from narratives of actual occurrences to tales of imaginative realism, fantasy, and even burlesque. Moreover, the mountaineering aspects are for the most part recognizable to mountaineers.
Some of the stories are better than others. In what respect? I have endeavored to answer this question for myself and I offer the result for the benefit of those who like an argument. The ratings expressed in the following list are impressions, on the basis of 10 for the best in this particular collection.
Literary Quality
Mountain eering Interest
6.
Boyle
Maiden, Maiden
10
10
17.
Montague
Action
10
10
2.
Wells
Little Mother Up the Möderberg
10
9
18.
Bruhl
The Great Match
8
10
4.
Stifter
Rock Crystal
10
7
8.
Knowlton
A Petite Première in the Mont Blanc Massif
8
9
11.
Bottome
A Splendid Fellow
9
8
15.
White
Climbing for Goats
10
7
19.
Mummery
The Matterhorn
7
10
1.
Hopkinson
Mountain Madness
8
8
3.
Ullman
Top Man
8
8
14.
Frison-Roche
Their Kingdom
8
8
9.
West
The Ascent
8
7
10.
Ervine
The Mountain
8
7
16.
Bates
Wailing Precipice
8
6
5.
Lidin
Glaciers
7
5
12.
De Maupassant
The Inn
9
2
7.
Todd
Over the Mountain
6
4
13.
Young
The Stream
5
1
Well, what is your opinion?
Francis P. Farquhar